You’ve got to see this. Watch the linked Nov 25, 2024, City Council meeting—it’s eye-opening. Start at 59:37 for the budget presentation and at 1:05 for public comments and council comment. The most interesting part kicks off with the public comment section.

There’s been talk about the city purchasing property in the town center at an inflated price. But legally, they can’t pay more than the appraised value—because, well, that would be a bit much. 😉

But here’s the kicker: The council pulled $5 million from the Parks Department to potentially “buy back” town center property. The catch? They’re not even sure that’s what the $5 million will be used for, and there’s no clear reason why they pulled that specific amount.

When questioned about the fund transfer, Mayor Howe stated, “it’s all the same money” when referring to which account the $5 million is in. The $5 million is now believed to sit in the general fund.

To complicate matters further, Mayor Howe admitted that the property purchase might not even happen—they could end up using the $5 million for something entirely different, like *“maybe roads.”* One thing’s for sure: that cash doesn’t seem destined to return to the Parks budget.

It’s worth noting that the Parks Commission members who spoke during public comment—and whose perspectives were ultimately overlooked—spend countless hours volunteering their time to keep Sammamish parks and trails wonderful for all of us to enjoy.

*(Note: Moving funds like this is completely within the rights of the council, as long as they follow proper procedure—which they did. But many are asking why this decision seemed to come out of nowhere. Where did this plan come from, and why weren’t we given a clearer picture before it was pushed through?)*

But here’s the twist

Like a magic trick, while we’re all focused on one hand, the real move could be happening somewhere else. Depleting parks funding now sets up a financial gap with the parks budget, potentially pushing us to support a Metropolitan Park District (a property tax used for the management and maintenance of parks)—we won’t really know for sure until the levy is actually proposed—but it could be a clever move to secure a new tax to fund our parks.

And Sammamish loves its parks. 🌲

🔹 Interesting Timing: At the April 1, 2025, City Council meeting, The Council also approved a $250,000 contract with PFM to serve as a financial advisor on a pay-as-you-go basis. Part of their role? Assisting with managing filed debt and helping plan for a Metropolitan Parks District tax.

And that’s just the start—there’s so much more to watch and see. Get your popcorn ready. Actions speak louder than words—hear what they say, then see what they do.Don’t miss this. 



Watch the video and see for yourself. Make your own conclusions.



More information: [citycouncil@sammamish.us](mailto:citycouncil@sammamish.us)

 





🌲 Is Something Shady in Sammamish—Besides the Trees? 🌲